Yu Xiaogang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Yu Xiaogang (玉小刚)
Alias(es)	Master; Gangzi; Pig Master
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shrek Academy; former Spirit Hall elder
Occupation/Role	Martial Soul theorist; mentor
Status	Deceased — executed by his nephew Yu Tianheng 300
First Appearance	No Useless Martial Souls, Only Useless Yu Xiaogang 1

Cultivation & Martial Soul

Attribute	Details
Soul Power	Level 29 at Nuoding Academy; he claimed to have cultivated from half a level of Innate Soul Power to this rank. 1 2
Martial Soul	A pig-like Martial Soul, later identified as containing the Holy Dragon of Light Origin. 1 169
Cultivation status	Yu Tianheng crippled his cultivation after Yu Xiaogang attempted to make him throw a tournament match. 158 159
Martial Soul Origin	Tang San extracted the Holy Dragon of Light Origin through the Eight Spider Lances; the origin was subsequently transferred to Yu Tianheng, purifying the latter's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon bloodline. 169 170

Background

Yu Xiaogang was born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan but awakened with only half a level of Innate Soul Power and an unsightly pig-like Martial Soul. His poor talent brought him repeated scorn within the clan and became a lasting source of resentment. 1

He established his reputation as a “Master” of Martial Soul theory despite possessing only level 29 Soul Power. Lin Mu publicly challenged the basis of his theories at Nuoding Academy, accusing him of appropriating Soul Beast knowledge and exposing the weakness of his proposed guidance for Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass. 1 3

Tang San was the disciple Yu Xiaogang believed could validate his theories, owing to Tang San’s Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power. Lin Mu instead became Tang San’s master, leaving Yu Xiaogang fixated on reclaiming him and proving himself. 2 10

After leaving Nuoding City, Yu Xiaogang sought a new opportunity at Shrek Academy. Flender introduced him to the students as a theoretical master, and Yu Xiaogang eventually accepted Ma Hongjun as his disciple after promising to solve the latter’s Evil Fire problem. 15

Appearance

Yu Xiaogang is repeatedly depicted as weathered and poorly kept during periods of defeat or hardship.

• After losing Tang San, he became unkempt and resembled a beggar. 10
• He retained an arrogant, scholarly bearing even when arriving at Spirit City in a worn-down state. 95
• Extracting the Holy Dragon of Light Origin left him increasingly hideous and stripped away his remaining masculine vigor. 169
• In his final years on Sea God Island, he was thin “as a bamboo pole” and lived in a dilapidated shack. 249 300

Personality

Yu Xiaogang is driven by recognition. He considers proving his Martial Soul theory more important than returning to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan before he can do so with honor. 69 He also displays extreme confidence in his own intellect, calling his rise from half a level of Innate Soul Power to level 29 proof of extraordinary genius. 2

His pride is paired with opportunism. He repeatedly gambles Soul Tools, money, and later a soul bone in attempts to regain status or defeat Lin Mu. 11 12 168 During the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, he planned to manipulate match draws and later asked Yu Tianheng to throw a match for Spirit Hall’s benefit. 143 158

Although Yu Xiaogang expresses concern for Ma Hongjun and treats him as his only remaining family after the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan’s destruction, he also regards Ma Hongjun as his sole means of proving his theories. 91 206 Their relationship deteriorates when Ma Hongjun confronts him over the Ice Attribute Soul Ring and other harm caused by Yu Xiaogang’s guidance. 299

Abilities & Skills

Martial Soul Theory

Yu Xiaogang presents himself as a Martial Soul theorist and uses his reputation to seek disciples, influence teams, and negotiate with powerful factions.

• He claimed that Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass required his guidance, while Lin Mu argued that Yu Xiaogang would have settled for a ten-year bamboo Soul Ring. 1
• He intended to use Ma Hongjun’s cultivation to prove his theories and promised to turn him into a Fire Phoenix Soul Master. 15 91
• His selection of an Ice Attribute Soul Ring for Ma Hongjun caused Ma Hongjun to lose the use of his Phoenix flames. 95
• His independently derived Soul Ring Age theory was described as having little practical value and as having harmed soul masters. 63

Political Manipulation

Despite his weak cultivation, Yu Xiaogang leverages his connections with Bibi Dong and Spirit Hall.

• He became a Spirit Hall elder despite not reaching rank 30, with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo assigned to protect him. 104
• He used his position to seek compensation from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for Ma Hongjun’s injuries. 104
• He planned to use Salas’s control over tournament draws to give Shrek Academy weaker early opponents. 143
• His elder position was later stripped after his connection with Bibi Dong became public. 156

Relationships

• Lin Mu — Primary rival. Lin Mu exposed Yu Xiaogang at Nuoding Academy, repeatedly defeated him in wagers, and later oversaw the extraction of his Martial Soul Origin. 1 11 12 169
• Tang San — Yu Xiaogang’s intended disciple and failed test case for his theories. Tang San chose Lin Mu instead and later rejected Yu Xiaogang’s claim to be “half” his teacher. 2 299 300
• Ma Hongjun — Direct disciple. Yu Xiaogang promised to cure his Evil Fire and later joined Spirit Hall to secure resources for him, but Ma Hongjun ultimately blamed Yu Xiaogang for crippling his Martial Soul and abandoning his dignity. 15 100 299
• Bibi Dong — Former lover and political patron. She recruited him to Spirit Hall and protected him through Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, but severed their relationship after he publicly exposed their past. 95 104 169 181
• Flender — Old friend and sworn brother. Flender welcomed Yu Xiaogang to Shrek Academy and continued assisting him despite his repeated failures. 15 143
• Liu Erlong — She confessed her feelings to Yu Xiaogang, but he fled rather than accept her confession. 83
• Yu Tianheng — Nephew. Yu Xiaogang attempted to use him to sabotage the Imperial Dou Team; Yu Tianheng crippled Yu Xiaogang and later executed him for his role in the clan’s downfall. 158 159 300
• Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan — His birth clan. He refused to return until he could prove his worth, then vowed to destroy the clan after Yu Tianheng crippled him. 69 159

Story Role / Major Arcs

Nuoding Academy

Yu Xiaogang attempted to recruit Tang San as the disciple who would prove his theories correct. Lin Mu exposed his level 29 Soul Power, pig-like Martial Soul, and lack of credible Soul Beast research, causing Tang San to reject him. 1 2

He later wagered a 24-cubic-meter Storage Soul Tool, his savings, and Tang San’s master-disciple relationship against Lin Mu. Lin Mu won, gave the tool to Tang San, and further strengthened Tang San’s loyalty. 10 11 12

Shrek Academy and Ma Hongjun

After fleeing Nuoding City, Yu Xiaogang joined Flender at Shrek Academy. He dismissed several students as inadequate before taking Ma Hongjun as his disciple, promising to resolve the Evil Fire Phoenix’s flaw. 15

His attempt to cure Ma Hongjun by selecting an Ice Attribute Soul Ring backfired, leaving Ma Hongjun unable to use Phoenix flames. Yu Xiaogang then sought Bibi Dong’s aid in Spirit City. 95

Spirit Hall Elder

Yu Xiaogang agreed to join Spirit Hall to obtain resources for Ma Hongjun’s recovery. Bibi Dong elevated his standing and assigned Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo as protection, allowing Yu Xiaogang to confront the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect over Ma Hongjun’s injuries. 100 104

His reliance on Bibi Dong collapsed after Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo abandoned him for Lin Mu, and he became disillusioned with Bibi Dong’s willingness to protect him. 114

Tournament Downfall

As Spirit Hall’s team leader, Yu Xiaogang attempted to strengthen Dai Mubai and Oscar with rare herbs and manipulate the tournament draws. 143 144 After Tang San’s level 53 cultivation and Blue Silver Emperor were revealed, Yu Xiaogang recognized Lin Mu as the true master capable of developing Tang San’s potential. 156

He then urged Yu Tianheng to throw a match against the Imperial Dou Team. Yu Tianheng responded by crippling his cultivation, after which Lin Mu and Tang San extracted Yu Xiaogang’s Holy Dragon of Light Origin and soul bones. 158 159 169 170

Sea God Island and Death

Following the annihilation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Xiaogang vowed vengeance against Bibi Dong and relied on Ma Hongjun as his remaining family and hope for a divine inheritance. 206 He traveled to Sea God Island but received no trial, eventually living in poverty while Ma Hongjun brought him food. 218 249

After Ma Hongjun abandoned him, Yu Xiaogang tried to claim credit for Tang San’s rise as the Sea God. Tang San rejected the claim, brought him to Heaven Dou Empire, and handed him to Yu Tianheng, who killed him. 299 300

Notable Quotes

“Yu Tianheng! Yu Yuanzhen! Just you wait. I will destroy the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan at any cost!” 159

“Bibi Dong, first you drove me away without regard for our past feelings. Now you have slaughtered my father and clansmen. I will never rest until one of us is dead!” 206

Trivia

• Lin Mu’s nickname for Yu Xiaogang, “Gangzi,” becomes a recurring insult after their first confrontation. 10
• Yu Xiaogang was falsely reported dead to Bibi Dong before his actual execution; he remained alive through his time on Sea God Island. 282 300
• Yu Tianheng considered the Holy Dragon of Light Origin more valuable than a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone because it purified his Martial Soul’s True Dragon bloodline. 170